Russia may ban the export of timber to China, said the Minister of natural resources

Russia may ban the export of timber to China, said the Minister of natural resources and ecology Dmitry Kobylkin, during the governmental hour in the Federation Council.

«China is the main market, where it exported timber. I Minister (of the PRC. — Approx. ed.) just said one simple thing. The mood of the President (Russia. — Approx. ed.) and President of the government, if we do not soon restore order, with sides including China, we will close completely the export to China of wood,» said the Minister.

According to him, perhaps, it has to be done «for some period of time.» So Kobylkin answered the question of Federation Council speaker Valentina Matvienko about when Russia will solve the problem of illegal logging and timber exports.

Kobylkin also asked the Chinese government to build in Russia 10-20 seed systems for forest restoration.

«You need forest — we restore the forest,» — he added.

Last year the Russian-Chinese forest turnover compared to 2016 increased by 23% and amounted to 4.8 billion dollars.